JtH,Y 30, 1909] 



SCIENCE 



157 



to the literature and published accounts of 

 each species are given with much fulness, and 

 where the species has been brought under 

 cultivation the history of such introduction is 

 given. This chapter represents much pro- 

 longed and careful work on the part of the 

 author and his assistants. The bulk of the 

 book is taken up with descriptions of the lead- 

 ing varieties of American grapes, arranged in 

 alphabetical order. The author's suggestions 

 as to the specific origin of each variety are of 

 interest to the botanist, who will be surprised 

 to find that so many are of hybrid origin. 

 In some cases the varieties are not simple 

 hybrids, but combine the " blood " of three or 

 even four species. On the other hand, not a 

 few varieties are derived from a single orig- 

 inal species. Thus the well-known "Concord" 

 variety is considered to belong to the species 

 VUis labrusca, without any other admixture. 

 The " Catawba " is regarded as a hybrid be- 

 tween V. labrusca and V. vinifera as is also 

 the " Isabella." In order to produce the tooth- 

 some " Delaware " no less than three species 

 have been blended, viz., V. labrusca, V. hour- 

 quiniana and V. vinifera. 



Following this chapter is one enumerating 

 the minor varieties of American grapes, and 

 the volume ends with a bibliography and a 

 good index. Altogether it is a most interest- 

 ing and valuable volume for the horticulturist, 

 ■while at the same time it is so well written 

 from the scientific standpoint that it must 

 become a valuable reference book for the 

 botanist. 



A BOTANICAL OPPORTUNITY 



During his very active life the late Pro- 

 fessor William A. Kellerman made large col- 

 lections of plants amounting to many thou- 

 sands of specimens, which are still the prop- 

 erty of his estate. These are now for sale, 

 and an unusual opportunity is thus opened 

 to museums for securing a herbarium of 

 great value. There are approximately 30,000 

 mounted specimens of flowering plants, with 

 about as many more that are unmounted, and 

 40,000 mounted specimens of parasitic plants 

 (fungi) and an equal number or perhaps more 

 of unmounted specimens. Altogether there 



are thus not far from sixty thousand mounted 

 specimens, and from sixty to seventy thousand 

 that are unmounted. 



The collections are said to be in good condi- 

 tion, care having been taken to use the best 

 methods for their preservation by adequate 

 protection against dust and moisture, while 

 insect depredations have been guarded against 

 by poisoning and other means. 



The fact that Professor Kellerman collected 

 much of this material while making his care- 

 ful studies of the harmful fungi which affect 

 cultivated plants gives to this collection great 

 value for the plant pathologist. It would be 

 invaluable for any one of our more scientific 

 e.xperiment stations. Since many of the speci- 

 mens were collected in Central America, this 

 fact will appeal to the curators of the large 

 herbaria connected with the great universities. 

 In fact a considerable collection of plants like 

 this, which, represents the life-work of an 

 active botanist, must have a high value on that 

 account, alone, to say nothing of its value for 

 the species represented. 



Mrs. Kellerman hopes to have these collec- 

 tions kept together, as indeed they should be, 

 if possible, but they will be sold separately if 

 necessary. Here is an opportunity for some 

 one who wishes to help botanical science in 

 this country by the purchase of these collec- 

 tions for some institution. They should be 

 kept together if possible, as the " Kellerman 

 Herbarium," but whether kept together or 

 merged into some larger herbarium, they 

 should be made available for the use of botan- 

 ical students. There must be many men of 

 scientific tastes who would be glad to render 

 a service to science by the presentation of this 

 herbarium to the botanical department of 

 some university or to one of our botanical 

 gardens. The editor of these notes hopes that 

 what is here said may suggest to some of the 

 readers of Science a use for a few thousand 

 dollars that will render a lasting service to 

 American botany. Moreover, the editor will 

 be glad to aid in bringing about such a de- 

 sirable scientific benevolence. 



Ch.^rles E. Bessey 

 The University of Nebraska 



